Security Council Suspects U.S. Behind
'Seismic Event' in Antarctica

UNITED
NATIONS (AMP) — The U.N. Security Council said Friday that Russia
detected a "seismic event" eight weeks ago in the vicinity of an
alleged American military base in Antarctica just hours before a huge
chunk of ice twice the size of Delaware broke off from the Ross Ice
Shelf. (Seismic Event Map)

The U.N. is trying to determine whether the U.S. carried out a nuclear test in violation of the international Antarctic Treaty.
The treaty, which entered into force in 1961, establishes Antarctica as
a zone of peace and bans all military activities, including the testing
of weapons.

"The
March 23 'event' had explosive characteristics," said a spokesman for
the Russian Atomic Energy Ministry. "It was not a natural event, but we
as yet cannot determine whether it was a nuclear test. We are still
analyzing the data."

The
U.S. has steadfastly denied the existence of a secret military base or
weapons testing on the "peace continent" despite persistent accusations
from the Russians and some environmental organizations. Nevertheless,
Russian observers believe the American base to be located 300 miles
east of their remote base at Vostok Station and 300 miles northwest of
Amundsen-Scott Station at the South Pole. That would put the site
inside the heart of the ancient continent's interior snow deserts —
charted by air but never by foot.

"Like
everybody else we're certainly concerned about global warming and the
possible breakup of the ice pack at the South Pole," said a spokesman
for the U.S. Defense Department's Joint Chiefs of Staff. "But unlike
our Russian counterparts we have detected no seismic activity beneath
the ice in Antarctica. And the idea that the U.S. or any country would
intentionally generate seismic activity in the world's most fragile
epicenter is quite frankly ludicrous."

The
spokesman went on to suggest the Russian accusation was nothing more
than diplomatic tit-for-tat. In 1997 Washington accused Moscow of
carrying out its own nuclear test blast near its top-of-the-world base
at Novaya Zemlya, located above the Arctic Circle. Moscow denied the
charges.

The
"seismic event" in Antarctica occurred on March 23. Hours later one of
the largest chunks of ice on record — 183 miles by 22 miles — broke off
the Ross Ice Shelf. According to the National Science Foundation, which
coordinates American research at the South Pole, the iceberg has a
surface area of about 4,247 square miles and is among the largest ever
observed.

The
iceberg could pose some danger if it eventually drifts into shipping
lanes around the South Polar Region. But more alarming to scientists
and environmentalists is what the recent breakup portends for the
greater West Antarctica ice sheet. A collapse or meltdown could raise
ocean levels by a cataclysmic 20 feet globally, putting most of Florida
and Manhattan underwater and wiping out many of the world's coastal
cities.

If
you've been referred to our site from a friend and want to continue to
receive instant access to live webcasts, special promotions and the
latest, breaking news on the secret U.S. dig in Antarctica, then click Subscribe and join the underground.